Static wheel balancer



May 2, W50 c. W TINKHAM 2,506,002

STATIC WHEEL BALANCER Filed April 21, 1947 INVENTOR.

CHARLES W. TINKHAM Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STATIC WHEEL BALANCER Charles W. Tinkham, Baltimore, Md.

Application April 21, 1947, Serial No. 742,836

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the balancing of wheels, and those particularly usable on vehicles, where at high speeds, unbalancing would tend to subject them to shimmying and vibrational reactions of a noticeable and undesirable nature. The device more particularly pertains to a machine capable Of evaluating the degree of unbalance of a wheel, conveniently and quickly, and enabling adjustments to be made to correct the unbalance as much as necessary or desirable.

In a particular form of balance testing machine for wheels, a tapered carrier is used, subject to rotation, on which the wheel is mounted to be tested, the carrier rotates on a conically pointed spindle in a socket which permits a slight tilt. The tapered holder is arranged to receive different sized holes in the hub portions of wheels, which will take up different positions according to the size of the holes and change of the centerof-gravity plane of the wheel thereon depending on how it is mounted on the holder. Thus a wheel with a large hub hole will position itself lower down on the carrier than one with a smaller hub hole. This results in a different center-ofgravity plane on the testing machine for each different wheel, and therefore changes the test evaluations in several practical ways which the rotation of the wheel accentuates during the test.

In order to overcome this difficulty, this invention has a framework carrier that when used,

avoids the need of its rotation, while the centerof-gravity plane is kept at an established level.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved static wheel balancer that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved static wheel balancer that will test a wheel for balance without requiring its rotation, and at the same time will hold the wheel in such a position as to bring its center of gravity plane at a predetermined horizontal level.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved wheel balancer that will suspend the wheel in a plane aligned with the point of suspension and have a flexible or ball point arrangement on which the suspension rests to enable it to be tilted readily in any direction that the wheel may be unbalanced.

Other objects will be apparent as the details of the invention are further outlined.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which together with the following description illustrate a particular form of the invention by way of example. The claims point out particularly the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a static wheel balancer, partly in section to show its internal construction, embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the balancer shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the under portion of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing the quasispherical recess in the stem bearing on the ball end of the column, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure l with parts in section.

Similar parts are designated by similar numerals of reference throughout the different figures.

In the particular form shown in the drawings, a spindular vertical support or column I0 has an enlarged circular base II at its bottom to keep it erect and its top supporting area formed with a ball l2. A carrier framework consisting of a dish-like member I3 closed in at the bottom plate 29 except where a hollow stem I4 projects a short amount 3| through it at the central portion. A circular flange outwardly extended as a rest plate on which to rest the spoke area [6 of a wheel I1, having a pneumatic tire l8 mounted on its rim [9 in a conventional manner.

The member 13 is hollowed out at its central portion into the lowersection, with its upper portion tapering upwardly and inwardly and terminating at thebottom of the stem M to which it is attached. Stem M is provided at its lower end with a quasi-spherical recess 2|, engaging the ball I2. This ball [2 and spherical recess 2| produce an arrangement that enables the stem [4 to tilt over to any angle from the vertical in any direction until the portion 2| of the stem I4 is contacted laterally. The stem I4 extends upwardly above the level of the framework. carrier member 13 to allow for an upwardly slanting adjuster 22 of conical contour with a central opening 23 at its apex portion 32 to slide up and down its exterior surface 24. The adjuster fits and rests on the cap provided on the portion 30, of the member l3. A cylindrical rim 25 serves as a skirt and a guide for the adjuster 22 in the member l3 to retain it in the same relative position with regard to the stem l4 during the travel of this adjuster 22 up and down. A spring 26 of the coil type is held inside the member l3 and raises or pushes the adjuster 22 upwardly when the wheel l1 to be tested is not placed on it. The top of the stem [4 is surmounted by a circular aligned over the conical surface of' the adjuster 22 until it fits closely thereon. This does not change the position of the center-of-gravity plane of the wheel, which is in the spoke sectionthereof.

The dotted outline of the adjuster 22 shows the limit of its vertical travel upwardly, where it will normally be when a wheel is not :re's'ting' onithe device, because the coil spring 26 raises'it to that point by reason of its natural resiliency due" to' its formation. within-the conical' s'paceunder the adjuster 22 that its upper portion makes contact with a mg 35 on the underside as indicated 'in Figure 2. T ne-lug 35 is locatedabout the middle portion of the adjuster adjacent the center-of-gravity plane'of the piece. The member P3 is provided with a number of elongated slots 38 which are adapted to receive stud bol-ts 3? and specially formed circular weights 3%. These weights are added to the member 3 to counteract any-um balan'de -that z'nay exist in the member. After the member i's balanc'ed, the wheel-' is positioned on the member to determine What adjustments weight should be made in' the wheel." Theseadjustments are made by the attachment of counter balance weights to the rim of the wheel. The positionof-tl iecarriei mern'ioer i '3and it's'adjuster E2 on the tip of the column is somewhatflexible, or atleast so that any variation in the balance of the panswin be free to show it: quickly and conspicuously. With the wheel il in place on the adjuster 22 acting on it resiliently andunbalanced atone-point, it will induce the stem Hi to tilt that direction. The level instrument 2% will then indicate the fact because it will betilted'likewise. Theopei-ator will usually adjust the unbalance oftnewheel by attachin Weights" thereof forcounterweighting the-unbalance.= This is kept onchai igedor added to as the unbalance may require,- and untilthe wheelis balanced. Thaw-heel is. then lifted" off the device and assembled on the vehicle: it is to' be used-with. During all the tests the wheel is kept stationary The ball enables it-toittilt easily in any direction due to unbalance. Thecoil spring' E'B, not dnly serves to control the adjuster but also acts as acushion for". the wheel Wherrmounted on the device.

The spring 2% is so arranged b While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the specifications, it is not desired to limit this application for patent to this particular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: i H

1. A wheel balancer comprising a base, a column ,secured thereto and projecting upwardly therei from, said column terminating in a ball point, ---an'stern having a conical recess at its lower end engaging said ball point, said stem being tiltable member having an outer cylindrical wall, a crown-shaped bottom plate extending inwardly from said cylindrical wall and extending upwardly within-saidcarrier truncated-cone: torrnati'on terminating: in e lo lldw cap resting upon and" carried by the aforesaid circular flange at the: lower end of said stem,- an adjuster member having a lower circular flange guided Within. said.

dishshap'ed carrier, said adjuster member hav ing conical wallsextending upwardly from said circular flange towards said stem and. terminating in: a horizontal disk portion having an axialaopening for the iree passageof said stem therethrough, a" circular abutment carried internally by the Wall's-oi said adjuster member, a helical coil-between said circular abutment and said. aforementioned crown-shaped-bottom. plate, andua flange on the upper end of said" cylindrical wall.

for supportinga wheel to be balanced.

, 2. A wheel balancer. as set forth in claimv I, including adjustable means secured to said crownshaped-bottom-plate, and a levelling indicator REFERENCES" CITED Thefollowing references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 8 ,538 Tedd Nov. 18; 1851 '18:?5'06 Seymour Apr; 10, 187.7. 2,060,958 Taylor Nov. 117, 1936 $075,421 Bennett "Mar. .30, 193"? 2 ,136,633 Morse Nov. 15, 1938 2,199,667 Lann'en May 7, 1940" 22335371 Smith Feb. 25, 1941 2,298,656 Smith Gct. 13, 1942 

